Two shot in Spennymoor as 'feud' turns to violence

TWO men were arrested following a gangland-style shooting that left one man in hospital and another needing treatment in a suburban street.

TWO men were arrested following a gangland-style shooting that left one man in hospital and another needing treatment in a suburban street.

Yesterday police stood guard outside a terraced house in Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, County Durham, which neighbours said was the home of a notorious local family.

An 18-year-old local man arrested on Saturday night on suspicion of attempted murder has been bailed pending further inquiries while a 32-year-old local man, also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, remains in custody at Bishop Auckland police station.

The arrests followed the shooting of two men, aged 40 and 59, after an altercation at around 5pm on Saturday.

Last night terrified neighbours said the shooting followed an alleged vendetta in which a family was targeted.

A cordon was thrown up around the site yesterday and a police notice said: “Crime Scene, Do not Enter.”

The footpath and allotments behind Clyde Terrace, as well as a footpath in front of a number of homes around the corner in West Terrace, were sealed off.

Police forensic experts were conducting examinations of the area behind Clyde Terrace.

One woman, in her 50s, said: “This has been going on for about six weeks now. Their window was put out. Nobody around here is surprised that the trouble involves them.”

Another neighbour, a woman in her 60s, said: “The police helicopter was hovering around here last night for ages. It was quite frightening, I didn’t dare go outside.”

A young mother from Clyde Terrace said the police had warned her to keep her children inside and away from her back yard.

She said: “They said there had been at least one shooting, and advised us to stay inside. There was a lot of activity, a helicopter overhead, police swarming everywhere, shortly after tea time.”

Police are appealing for information about a white transit van believed to be in the vicinity of Clyde Terrace at the time.

Chief Inspector Tony Avery said: “We believe the individuals responsible for the shootings are known to the victims. An altercation occurred between the victims and others for whatever reason and the two men were shot during that altercation.

“There is nothing to suggest people in the wider community are in danger.

“We are actively searching for other individuals we believe responsible.

“They know who they are and we would urge them to ring us on 0345 606 0365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”